Naomi Stevens

American actress (1925–2018)

Robert Burns Jr.

(m. 1948; died 2012)

Children1

Naomi Ruth Stevens^[1] (November 29, 1925 – January 13, 2018^[2]) was an American character actress of film and television from the 1950s through the 1980s. She appeared in almost 100 roles over the years, usually depicting mothers, landladies, gossips, or neighbors.^{[citation needed]}

Stevens began entertaining in vaudeville at age 2. She had expanded into radio, film, and theater by age 5.^[3] She appeared on a radio program on KNX in Los Angeles and was featured in Paramount Pictorials.^[4] Stevens attended the Grace Waugh Bowman School of Theatricals.^[1]

Her most frequent characterizations were Italian, Jewish, Latin, or East European, and usually with a comic touch. She appeared in many television series and in such feature films as Valley of the Dolls; Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell; and The Apartment (as Mrs. Dreyfuss, the supportive "Jewish mother" type to Shirley MacLaine's character, Fran Kubelik). She portrayed Sgt. Bella Archer in the ABC crime drama Vegas (1978).^[5]^: 1138 She made guest appearances on numerous television series. Her last role was on Days of Our Lives as Mrs. Nazareo in 1989. On old-time radio, Stevens portrayed Daphne Royce on Brenthouse^[6]^: 51-52 and Irene Barbour on One Man's Family.^[6]

Stevens died on January 13, 2018, in Reseda, Los Angeles, California, aged 92.^[7]

Partial filmography

Have Gun-Will Travel (1957, TV Series) as Marga / Ma Kafka / Maria
The Black Orchid (1958) as Guilia Gallo
Rescue 8 (1959, TV Series) as Angela
The Apartment (1960) as Mrs. Mildred Dreyfuss
The Twilight Zone (1960, Episode: Mirror Image) as Washroom Attendant
The Lawless Years (1961, TV Series) as Rose
Perry Mason (1961–1964, TV Series) as Agnes / Fanny Werbler / Mrs. Kransdorf
Dr. Kildare (1961–1965, TV Series) as Mrs. Gast / Aunt Kasia / Mrs. Mendoza / Mrs. Gitlin
Convicts 4 (1962) as Resko's Mother
McHale's Navy (1963, TV Series) as Mrs. Gruber
The Farmer's Daughter (1964, TV series) as Mrs. Golden
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964, Episode: "The Gentleman Caller") as Mrs. Goldy
Honeymoon Hotel (1964) as Woman at Garbage Dump (uncredited)
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1964, TV Series) as Aunt Clara / Maria Pia
Joy in the Morning (1965) as Mrs. Ridinski (uncredited)
The Art of Love (1965) as Mrs. Sarah Fromkis
Frankie and Johnny (1966) as Princess Zolita (uncredited)
Hogan's Heroes (1967, Episode: "The Crittendon Plan") as Nadya
Valley of the Dolls (1967) as Miss Steinberg
The Flying Nun (1967–1970, TV Series) as Sister Teresa / Mrs. Emanuel / Señora Rosales
The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) as Squaw (uncredited)
To Die in Paris (1968, TV Movie) as Mama Dendier
Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) as Rosa
The Doris Day Show (1968–1969, TV Series) as Juanita (housekeeper)^[5]
My Three Sons (1969–1970, TV Series) as Mama Rossini
Love, American Style (1969–1973, TV Series) as Hazel / Mildred / Rosa / Mrs. Straub aka Mother / Annie Ellsworth
The Hawaiians (1970) as Queen Liliuokalani
Room 222 (1970, TV Series) as Rose
Fly Me (1973) as Toby's Mother
Superdad (1973) as Mrs. Levin (neighbor)
Hard Times (1975) as Madam
The Montefuscos (1975, TV Series) as Rose Montefusco^[5]^: 713
Hustle (1975) as Woman Hostage
The Practice (1976, TV Series) as Mrs. Friedman
Opening Night (1977) as Crying Mourner (uncredited)
Vega$ (1978–1979, TV Series) as Sgt. Bella Archer
The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal (1979, TV Movie) as Mrs. Goldstein
Hotel (1982, TV Series) as Mrs. Tomasino
Taxi (1983, TV Series) as Aunt Lucia

References

^ ^a ^b "Youthful Actress Wins Leading Role". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. April 10, 1932. p. 44. Retrieved May 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Naomi Stevens Burns - View Obituary & Service Information". Naomi Stevens Burns Obituary. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
^ "A Family on and off the Screen". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. September 28, 1975. p. TV Week - 16. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Young Singer Brought West for Pictures". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. April 5, 1931. p. 38. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 278–279. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
^ ^a ^b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
^ Naomi Stevens at IMDb